Design Considerations

Urban design is the process of designing and shaping cities, towns and villages and their surrounding areas. Good urban design results in great places to live, work and play.

We are committed to promoting quality urban design and signed the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol produced by the Ministry for the Environment. This protocol aims to make New Zealand’s towns and cities more attractive and successful through quality urban design.

Design Guidelines

We are producing a range of guidelines to assist with rural and urban developments. While they are not enforceable, we encourage people to consider the wider environmental aspect of their projects.

*We are currently working on guidelines to address other important issues.

Central Area

We have prepared a 30-year shared vision for New Plymouth’s central area, the Central Area Urban Design Framework, which drew on public feedback gathered in 2012 and 2013 on what residents liked and what they wanted improved in the city’s central area. The framework builds on the 1994 New Plymouth CBD Review Project and the 1998 Strategic Plan for the New Plymouth Central Area, taking these documents a step further by adopting a contemporary shared vision with key principles and objectives, and actions with measurable elements.

The framework will give greater confidence to landowners, developers and the Council about decision-making which should, in turn, lead to good urban design outcomes, including increased vibrancy, efficiency and accessibility in our central area.

Five key themes have been identified for the central area’s urban design:

Central area housing and building height reports
The central area housing and building height reports stem from the New Plymouth Central Area Urban Design Framework, addressing the liveability, competitiveness and vibrancy of the New Plymouth Central Area. The research reports have been produced for New Plymouth District Council to help shape the 2015 District Plan Review. The reports have been undertaken by planning and architecture students Ashleigh Pearce and Kyle Ramsay as part of the 2013/14 NPDC summer student programme. The projects were undertaken with support from the Massey University School of People, Environment and Planning.